The Extraordinary Men of Shin-Ra

Written By Hunter-0017

Warning: Contains Dark Humor, Zack being Zack, Adult Language and Content

Two men walked through the halls of the Shin-Ra building as usual: One with long silver hair flowing down his back and the other boasted a head of spiky, black hair down to his shoulders. They were the top SOLDIER members of the Shin-Ra company, and they were to help in the training of the newest recruits of guards and loyal followers.

"Excited?" The dark-haired one asked his friend, but his companion didn't seem interested in chatting, as always. And as always, the first would continue the conversation by himself when the other didn't answer. "Well, I hope this group isn't as disappointing as the last! I mean, they couldn't even get on their asses after we were through with 'em!"

"……."

"Maybe this time, we should go a little easier on 'em, eh?"

"……."

"…..Damn! You're no fun today, are ya?"

"Zack!" When the second said this, the two men stopped to face each other. The taller man looked as though he were about to scold his companion, but when he saw the stupid grin on his friend's face, he realized that it would do no good. " Sigh Let's just get on with this ordeal, alright? I don't want to stick around this place anymore than you do!"

"Great to know that much! Lets get this thing on the road! I mean, this place gives me the creeps!"

"Agreed." and the two men continued their path to the training hall.

There were about four or five hundred trainees there. Many of them were young boys waiting their chance to make their names in history! Others were looking for a fight. The most noticeable of them were three young men, all about the age of sixteen or seventeen: One had fire red hair, the other's head was shaved bald, and the third's hair was just as spiky as Zack's but longer and more thin and blonde, and was force to be tied back into a tail. And it was the blonde who had started the ruckus with the other two, calling the red head a "Street Rat", and his friend a "Mute with no hair" …..

….And he was getting his ass whipped pretty bad….or so it looked.

By the time Zack and his friend had entered, the blonde had pinned down the bald boy and was punching the "Street Rat" in the face and stomache repeatedly. And no one was stopping it because ….well, it was nothing but a bunch of guys and everyone was anxious to see some action.

"OH SHIT! That scrawny one sure is tough!" Zack yelled just before his friend jumped high into the air and landed gracefully on the ground, but the land created a loud stomping sound that hushed the room's noisy atmosphere and the three were stunned, afraid to move. All Zack could do was scratch the back of his head and say,

"Showoff! I could'a done that!" and followed his friend into action.

The man quickly grabbed the blonde and tightened his grip on the back of his throat, preventing the boy from breaking free.

"You have a lot of guts, starting a fight in the Shin-Ra building like you did." He said in a cold, unfeeling voice.

"Yeah? What about it! You got a problem with it!" The boy spat back in the same tone, and the man smiled.

"Tell me your name--All of you!" All of the boys looked at one another, then back at the man.

"Reno" said the red head. said his friend. The man had to literally shake the third boy in order to the an answer from him. After a few more shakes, the blonde finally said,

"Okay, okay! Cloud! My name is Cloud! Happy!"

"Very good. It is always good for a member of SOLDIER to respond to a superior's orders….and answer them very, very quickly….." The man gave him one last shake, then dropped Cloud on the floor. "I am Sephiroth, your training party squad leader. I am responsible for all who enter the forces of SOLDIER…..And over there is my partner, Zack." Zack waved like an idiot.

"Hiya!" He then approached Cloud, who was actually his height and asked, "Where'd ya learn to fight like that man! It was wicked awesome, you know!" The kid rolled his eyes at the older man.

"….Picked it up from home…" Zack, who wasn't very keen on sarcasm ( and didn't really learn anything from his conversations with Sephiroth didn't help at all), blinked a few times until his brain registered what the youth had said.

"Awesome! Think you can teach me how you managed to get baldy down like that! He's way bigger than you know!" Sephiroth rolled his eyes at his partner as well, then ordered all the trainees into a proper military line.

"Now, all of you are here to become members of SOLDIER, correct? Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but only a few chosen shall become part of the greatest military group known to the planet. And apparently, some of you are already going for insubordination, aren't we?" He glared daringly at Cloud, Reno, and Rude. He then turned back to the rest, and then to Zack, who was still thinking about a way to copy that move Cloud pulled on Rude. "We will take you to your quarters now. Each room will be assigned to three members of the training sessions…..And since you three work so well together, you'll be sharing the first room.

The three young men began to complain, but Sephiroth wasn't paying attention to their bickering. It was Zack who finally shut them up, by slashing his sword into the metal floor and causing a great gust to knock the three back.

"No more arguing men!" He shouted happily, almost joking to himself. "Time to show you boys to your rooms!"